The growing strength of Indian students in the US, becoming the number one country again in 2024-25, has seen a significant increase.

Indian students contributed $14 billion to the US economy, and a 47% increase in OPT programs proves that Indian youth continue to have a strong foothold in both education and employment.

Indian students today are not only studying abroad but also establishing a strong presence in the world's largest economies. The biggest proof of this is the US, where the number of Indian students has once again seen a significant jump in 2024-25. According to the OpenDoors International Educational Exchange Report 2025, India has consolidated its position as the country with the largest population of foreign students in the US for the second consecutive year.

According to the report, the number of Indian students increased by nearly 10% this year to over 363,000. This growth proves that the US remains a hub of excellent educational and career opportunities for Indian youth.

Indian students nearly doubled in 8 years.

This surge isn't just a one-year phenomenon; the number of Indian students has steadily increased over the past eight years. In 2017-18, the number of Indian students was 196,000, and today it has reached 363,000. This represents an increase of nearly 85% in just eight years. The number of Chinese students in the US declined after the COVID-19 pandemic, but during that period, a large number of Indian students arrived in the US, rapidly filling this void. This further strengthened India's position.

America received $14 billion in economic benefits.

The impact of Indian students isn't limited to education. Reports indicate that Indian students contributed approximately $14 billion to the US economy in 2024. Fees, living expenses, local shopping, travel, and everyday expenses sustain thousands of jobs in the US.

First Choice for Indian Students

Approximately 49% of Indian students studying in the US are pursuing graduate (Master's/PhD) degrees. This shows that Indian youth are rapidly advancing in advanced fields such as research, technology, engineering, and management. Additionally, approximately 40% of students are on OPT (Optional Practical Training),

which provides them with the opportunity to work in the US after their studies. This year, there was a significant increase of 47% in the number of Indian students enrolled in OPT. This means that Indian students are not only studying in the US but are also easily finding jobs there.

China is second after India, but the decline continues

The number of Chinese students in the US has been declining for the past several years. In 2024-25, the number of students from China declined by 4%, while the number of Indian students increased by approximately 10%.

Which states are preferred by Indian students?

New York
Massachusetts
California
Illinois